The family-run Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery in Kula, Maui, celebrated its grand opening in late April and has quickly become a popular stop for cruise passengers and visitors to the nearby, renowned Surfing Goat Dairy, among others. Above, Diana Smith tends to one of the many varieties of sugar cane that go into the gluten-free vodka, which was used to create a vodka pineapple gazpacho when gourmet pop-up Kupu Maui — now a farm-to-table nonprofit — held a sold-out dinner there earlier this year.

The original Tasting Kauai tour, A Culinary Romp Through Paradise, has a daylong itinerary that includes a tour of an Eastside farm (shown) that grows sugar cane, pineapple and other tropical fruit; a cooking demonstration by Kauai Marriott Resort executive chef Guy Higa and locally sourced four-course lunch at the resort in Lihue; and a presentation about Kauai-produced Koloa Rum with two cocktails served at either the Feral Pig in Lihue or Oasis on the Beach in Kapaa. The six-hour tours cost $140, reservations required; remaining 2013 tour dates are Aug. 16, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. Participants provide their own transportation between sites.

A benefit for the Kauai Humane Society, the Aug. 16 RumFest at RumFire Poipu Beach will feature tastings of more than 15 varieties of rum produced in the islands, including selections from Kauai's Koloa Rum Company. Tastes of Maui-made Old Lahaina and Sammy's Beach Bar rums will also be provided, with food pairings such as lemongrass rum-glazed chicken wings and seared shrimp sticks with pineapple rum cocktail sauce.

The second annual Kaanapali Fresh, a culinary festival Aug. 30-31, includes a tour of Kaanapali Coffee Farms (shown), with tastings and a presentation by Kimo Falconer and Jeff Ferguson of MauiGrown Coffee. CJ's Deli & Diner will serve lunch as part of the tour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 31. The Labor Day weekend experience feeds into Maui's first foray into the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, previously solely based on Oahu, starting with the Malama Maui dinner gala Sept. 1at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa.

The firepit-dotted Ocean Courtyard at the Sheraton Kauai Resort will be the setting for the first annual RumFest at RumFire Poipu Beach, featuring Hawaii-made rums, island music and appetizers from the hotel's signature restaurant, RumFire Poipu Beach, on Aug. 16.

Even at the top-rated Four Seasons Hualalai, the dining scene is ever evolving. In 2012, the eclectic Hualalai Grille morphed into a classic American steakhouse over the summer, while late fall saw the metamorphosis of the more formal Pahu ia [cq] into the inventive, casual but chic Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge (shown). The expanded beachside restaurant more recently introduced a blind wine-tasting experience with on-the-spot pairings by chef de cuisine Nick Mastrascusa and a beverage menu that includes craft Japanese beers, sake and locally sourced cocktail components. More changes could be on the way: Last week the resort announced the appointment of executive chef Chris Bateman, previously of Jumeirah hotels in Dubai and formerly the chef de cuisine at Four Seasons Maui.

Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate

Even at the top-rated Four Seasons Hualalai, the dining scene is...

Image 10 of 14

Lahaina's popular theatrical production of "Ulalena" has created a luau version for the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Presented on Wednesdays and Sundays at 5:30 p.m., the Ulalena Luau includes a plated menu of three courses with multiple items, serving farm-to-table dishes such as Hawaiian vegetable summer rolls, mahimahi laulau with Molokai sweet potato and mango cheesecake. The $120 cost ($80 per child) includes a fresh lei and local beer, specialty cocktail and wine bar; a children's menu and vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also available.

Photo: Makena Beach & Golf Resort

Lahaina's popular theatrical production of "Ulalena" has created a...

Image 11 of 14

The Volcano House in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officially reopened last month, with renovated guest rooms and a crater-view restaurant called the Rim, following a contest to name the new dining outlet. The menu emphasizes island ingredients at all three meals, with an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet offering the best value at $15. Croissants are baked on site daily, a fruit salad and smoothies are made with produce grown nearby, the waffle bar offers freshly crafted toppings and proteins include wild turkey hash and wild boar bacon. Among the locally sourced choices at the omelet station (shown) are mushrooms, goat cheese, tomatoes and onions -- not to mention the eggs themselves.

Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate

The Volcano House in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officially...

Image 12 of 14

Even at the top-rated Four Seasons Hualalai, the dining scene is ever evolving. In 2012, the eclectic Hualalai Grille morphed into a classic American steakhouse over the summer, while late fall saw the metamorphosis of the more formal Pahu ia [cq] into the inventive, casual but chic Ulu Ocean Grill and Sushi Lounge (shown). The expanded beachside restaurant more recently introduced a blind wine-tasting experience with on-the-spot pairings by chef de cuisine Nick Mastrascusa and a beverage menu that includes craft Japanese beers, sake and locally sourced cocktail components. More changes could be on the way: Last week the resort announced the appointment of executive chef Chris Bateman, previously of Jumeirah hotels in Dubai and formerly the chef de cuisine at Four Seasons Maui.

Photo: Jeanne Cooper, Special To SFGate

Even at the top-rated Four Seasons Hualalai, the dining scene is...

Image 13 of 14

The Bull Shed Restaurant in Kapaa, Kauai, recently debuted a new menu, wine list and decor in its ocean-view dining room. Opened in 1973, the popular steak and seafood restaurant now offers an appetizer menu, new steak toppings and combination plates, and more international wines as well as West Coast vintages.

Hilton Waikoloa will showcase Hawaii Island's grass-fed beef industry when it hosts the 18th annual Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agricultural Festival on Oct. 4. The evening event features tastings by 30 chefs not just of locally raised beef but also of island pork, lamb, mutton, goat and wild boar; tasting tickets are $40 advance, $60 at the door. Fairmont Orchid executive chef Hubert Des Marais will lead an afternoon seminar called Grass-Fed Beef Cooking 101 (admission $10.) Another easy way to sample Big Island beef: Visit Village Burger at Parker Ranch Center in Waimea, which also serves homemade mamaki tea and smoothies with island-made ice cream and local fruit. Above: A team from Puuwai Ranch prepares kabobs at an earlier Taste of the Hawaiian Range.

With restaurateurs catering to more than a million residents — and seemingly two million appetites — Oahu tends to dominate the food scene in the Hawaiian Islands. Thus it's no surprise many a Mainland celebrity chef will cross the Pacific pond for the island's third annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival, Sept. 1-9. But there's a good reason the lavish culinary affair is expanding to include events on Maui this year: The Neighbor Islands not only have equally adventurous palates to please, they also have a rich heritage of agriculture and aquaculture and impassioned chefs to support the near-ubiquitous farm-to-table trend. Check out the accompanying photo gallery for a smorgasbord of fresh ways to enjoy the bounty of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.